Transcript

ESRM 450Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

FOREST STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT

Stand Dynamics and Succession

Scale measures or quantifies differences among observations

Extent (or range) describes the realized scope of a phenomenon or entity of interest

Grain (or resolution) describes how finely observations within the extent are divided or distinguished

Edges change over time

Recent edge

Closed edge

Embedded edge

Light is attenuated at forest edges

How does light affect wildlife habitat?

Edges alter laminar wind flow

How does wind affect wildlife habitat?

Extent of edge effects varies by forest type and environmental factor

What factors causethis variability?

Forest development and succession can be modeled in different ways

Oliver & Larson model of stand development following disturbance

Relative positions of canopy strata are important components of stand structure

How can these strata help us interpret wildlife habitat?

Frelich, L.E. and P.B. Reich (1995)Ecological Monographs 65:325-346

Spatial patterns and succession in a Minnesota southern-boreal forest

Southern Boreal Forest

Multiple successional pathways in southern boreal forest

Silviculture can influence the outcome of successional pathways